California POST Training Practice Test

What must there be for a crime to be considered complete?

1. A legal human act or omission

2. A written statute

3. An admission of guilt from the offender

4. A final verdict from the court

The correct answer is: A legal human act or omission

For a crime to be considered complete, there must be a legal human act or omission that satisfies the elements of a particular offense. This encompasses not only the actions taken by the individual but also how those actions align with the definitions established in laws pertaining to specific crimes, which include both conduct and intent. A mere intention to commit a crime does not constitute completion; there must be an observable act or failure to act that is unlawful and is associated with a specific legal definition of a crime. While options like having a written statute are important for establishing what constitutes a crime, the crime itself requires that there has been an action or omission on the part of an individual. Similarly, an admission of guilt or a final verdict from the court relates to evaluating and prosecuting a crime but does not factor into what makes a crime itself complete. Therefore, the presence of a legal human act or omission is the fundamental cornerstone for a crime to be legally recognized as complete.